South View High School's Class of 2024: A Legacy of Influence and Resilience

Emily Haynes, the Senior Class President at South View High School, reflects positively on her tenure, finding it profoundly rewarding. "My experience representing the Senior Class at South View has been a memorable one," Emily stated. She has taken great pride in orchestrating events such as school dances, spirit weeks, and after-school activities, which have not only been successful but also reinforced her optimism about her peers' potential and collaborative spirit.

The impact of COVID-19 provided unique challenges and opportunities for growth to Emily and her classmates.  "Our freshman year was entirely online. This caused us to be stunted and behind as we were sophomores who acted like freshmen and socialized like 8th graders," Emily shared. Despite these initial setbacks, she views these experiences as crucial stepping stones that fostered resilience and growth. The class adapted impressively, turning these challenges into opportunities to strengthen their unity and support for each other, especially while recognizing mental health issues among students.

A key figure in supporting the student government and fostering creativity among students is Mr. Odom, the IB English Teacher and SGA advisor. "Mr. Odom has enabled the SGA to throw events while encouraging critical thinking and creativity within all of his classes," she praised. His dedication extends beyond the classroom as he balances his professional responsibilities with personal commitments, making him an influential figure not just to those he teaches but to the entire student body.

Emily highlighted the leadership within her class, particularly Michael Sturdivant Jr., whose efforts have significantly enriched the school community. "Getting to work alongside him as he strives for excellence in all fields has been interesting and has made me a better person," she noted, acknowledging his contributions to organizing many school events.

Describing her class as "influential," Emily sees a diverse future for her peers, who are planning to engage in various paths, including college, the workforce, the military, trade school, and gap years. She attributes much of their preparedness to the comprehensive programs offered at South View, such as the CTE, HOSA, IB, and JROTC programs, which have helped students clarify their post-secondary plans.

Emily's advice to incoming high school students emphasizes the importance of seizing every opportunity: "Live every moment to the fullest. Although it may sound cliche, I have many regrets from missing out on events due to several external factors so I would suggest considering what you do and don't do as ultimately in 10 years, you could regret what you didn't do versus what you could've done."

She also commended Cumberland County Schools for their role in providing a rich array of educational opportunities. "Allowing for my home school to also be a school with IB and AP classes which I could sign up for has furthered the knowledge and experience of my fellow classmates and me," Emily concluded, appreciative of the diverse educational paths available that have significantly enhanced student learning and preparedness.